E141-08 - Forschungsbereich Quantum Optics and Quantum Information
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Journal:
Physical Review Letters
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ISSN:
0031-9007
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Date (published):
1-Dec-2023
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Number of Pages:
1
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Publisher:
AMER PHYSICAL SOC
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Peer reviewed:
Yes
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Keywords:
quantum thermodynamics
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Abstract:
From a thermodynamic point of view, all clocks are driven by irreversible processes. Additionally, one can use oscillatory systems to temporally modulate the thermodynamic flux towards equilibrium. Focusing on the most elementary thermalization events, this modulation can be thought of as a temporal probability concentration for these events. There are two fundamental factors limiting the performance of clocks: On the one level, the inevitable drifts of the oscillatory system, which are addressed by finding stable atomic or nuclear transitions that lead to astounding precision of today's clocks. On the other level, there is the intrinsically stochastic nature of the irreversible events upon which the clock's operation is based. This becomes relevant when seeking to maximize a clock's resolution at high accuracy, which is ultimately limited by the number of such stochastic events per reference time unit. We address this essential trade-off between clock accuracy and resolution, proving a universal bound for all clocks whose elementary thermalization events are memoryless.
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Project title:
Control and complexity in quantum statistical mechanics: 101043705 (European Commission)
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Project (external):
ASPECTS FWF-START Emergence of physical laws: From mathematical foundations to applications in many body physic FQXi
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Project ID:
101080167 879-N27 ESQ Discovery FQXi-IAF19-03-S2
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Research Areas:
Quantum Modeling and Simulation: 20% Quantum Metrology and Precision Measurements: 80%